"So, before our trip to England, I retrieved our (fairly new) luggage from the basement. Norm looked at the intermediate size bag and announced it was much too large to drag around England, at which time we set out to find a smaller suitcase for me to use while he chose the smallest size of all out of our existing luggage. We found one bag that seemed to be smaller and ordered it from Macy's to be delivered at home. It was bigger than my (too-big) suitcase that Norm had deemed "baby elephant!" We sent it back. We ordered another set as this particular brand had a vinyl covering that would prevent rain from damaging them as we traveled in the "land of moisture!" When that set arrived, the intermediate bag was about 1" smaller than the one we already owned, and the smallest bag in the vinyl set was even smaller than the one Norm had chosen to use. Shall we call the smallest one an overnight bag--it would be for me! Nonetheless, he packed two pairs of pants, two shirts, two sweaters, underwear, socks and personal items. He had to use the expanding zipper!

I packed my intermediate size bag: a week's worth of outer clothes, and two weeks worth of under clothes, and personal items. I had to sit and grunt the zipper closed! The two bags, when weighed, were about the same. I'm not sure how that happened. ;) So, we made it to England and the luggage lasted through the rain, but it was a continual struggle to get items back into the case and rezip them after a hotel stay. Norm announced I needed to leave things behind. SHOCKED LOOK! I began to go through my case. Lost a button on this new sweater--that stays! I left the belt home to this new sweater--that stays! Boots, an extra pair I probably would not wear--those stay.

Then Norm announced that we needed to ship some more things home, so we took items to the post office to mail to the States. The prices to ship were outrageous! But we did it. About that time, I was longing for my largest suitcase of the original set that sat in the basement back home. THEN, when we landed in Salisbury, Norm asked the hotel clerk if we could have our bags carried to the room, and promptly a huge man with popping muscles appeared around the desk front. He picked up one suitcase on each arm and carried them all the way to the room upstairs. Just as we were approaching the door of our hotel room, he dropped Norm's small case. The handle broke on it! Norm and the muscle man both looked bewildered. But Norm tipped him when I gave him the eye. Afterall, it was not his fault that Norm packed that tiny case too full for any handle to hold up to!

The last day of our stay, Norm announced that HE needed a "larger" suitcase! NO, REALLY? Can I record that? We found a store that carried London Fog. He measured, he schemed, he brought out the 4 pages of airline regulations that gave the exact dimensions for an allowable checked suitcase. He said, "This is the one!" I reminded him that it was bigger than the suitcase I was using--the "baby elephant!" He denied it. "IT WILL WORK," he said. It WAS rather handsome, but there was only one, not a set! He paid dearly for that suitcase, and back to the hotel we went, pulling the new London Fog beauty through the streets of Salisbury--across the uneven bricks.. thumpity, thump.... Norm worried about the wheels so he lifted it up and carried it most of the way!

When we got to the room, Norm announced that he would leave the (new) small vinyl bag with the broken handle. He set the intermediate size London Fog case next to my intermediate size cheaper vinyl case. The new case was much bigger--in fact, it was as big as the case Norm made me leave at home. ;) He packed his things including: books, papers, envelopes, and of course the two pairs of outer clothes that found residence in a small corner of the case. "There's room for something of yours to go in there!" he announced! I was laughing like a hyena inside! I'd left my clothes and boots back in hotel #2, and now the new smaller case would be left for some lucky hotel maid who could have the handle repaired for a few bucks. I retrieved my flat iron case, my make-up bag, a bulky sweater, and sandals to put in the empty space of the shiny new London Fog, and it closed down perfectly, but not before Norm's perceptive eye noticed the sandals I did NOT leave behind at hotel #2, my Zappos! "I thought you left those back at the other hotel?" he questioned. I smiled and replied, "I found room for them in the "baby elephant!"

Without further discussion, he pulled out the AAA airline suitcase weight monitor. The new London Fog case was not only larger than my "baby elephant" but it was heavier than mine! We are home now, and all of the cases set side-by-side in the basement, except for that one little case that Norm said would do fine for a 2-week trip (the overnight case) that is serving someone in Salisbury, England just fine for carrying small items across the uneven brick streets...thumpity, thump.... So, Ladies, if your husband tells you that your case is too big, and tries to prove he can wear two day's worth of clothing for two weeks and attempts to press you to do the same, use your own judgment PLEASE! Save your time, your money, and your exasperation, and carry the suitcase that's regulation and right for YOU! But the London Fog olive-brown plaid does cut a mean image next to my American Flyer fleur de lis black, and that cheap brown vinyl croc that has one less family nester! "